The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-01-27
large fields beyond, charged, at FIRST drove
the enemy, and then

trains. was promptly at the front, covered
the rallying of the Second Division, held the
right all the afternoon against fierce assaults
ofthe enemy, with great slaughter, and never
abandoned its line. The Second Division
lost heavily in its bold charge, and was OF
course broken up, but it also was In the
great fight TO the end. Let me quote a few au-
thentic figures for Capt Lockhart's consid-
Grafton:
Whole number Of regiments Of the Sixth
Corps nj Winchester, AZ; whole number OF
regiments of the Nineteenth Corps at Win
chester, 3d. ] say nothing of the artillery,
but the Sixth Corps had twice the batteries
of the Nineteenth. Killed at Winchester
Sixth Corps, 213; Nineteenth, 275; wounded,
Sixth Corps, ], ,42i; Nineteenth, l,22S
Taking all these figures together, do not
they speak rather loudly? The survivors ol
the Nineteenth are quite willing TO rest their
claim of good conduct upon them. The gal
liant Eighth Corps may speak for ITSELF Ii
STRUCK THE cRowNIEG BLOW,
with the cavalry, on the right, losing lO5
killed and $40 wounded. Continuing our
extracts from Capt. LOckhart:
AZ Fishers Hin the enemy was easily routed
The Eighth Corps attacked on the leil ma hahk al,u
the Sixth in front. We pursued, and had an ex-
citing chase, etc.
The thanks Of the Eighth Corps are due for
this extremely handsome acknowledgment OF
the service of the men who won Fishers hlll
by moving all day to geton the enemy,s left and
then utterly domoralized them by thelrspendld
attack "Me pursued" is extremely good.
PRAY, Capt Lock hart did you never hear OF
the Nineteenth Corps at Fishers Hill2 Did
you not learn that they attacked in front as
well as the Sixth, and pursued and skirmlshed
with the enemy for the next three days
Again the extracts, Cedar Greek being now
described and settled in few lines;
The surprise OF the morning was overwhelming
The Eighth aud Nineteenth Corps were shattered
and fled In confusion To the rear. The Sixth Corps
alone remained II was finally forced back more
than mile, when il was hated and assumed me
offensive with what brilliant results the country
knows. . The Sixth Corps ln thih battle oI
Cedar Creek did almost all the tighting losing -,zo9
men and with the assistance OF the cavalry achieved
the destruction of Early's army.
I'm all truth and seriousness Mr.. Editor, IL is
high time that the brave and seryiceabie sixth
Corps furnished some of its members TO do ITS
literary work, who can do il in such way that
the whole corps need not he put 30 the blush by
such atrocious-what shall say2 Aisstatement
is a very mild word 20 use IN this connection.
know that the bulk of the authors surviving
comrades wOuld discOuntenance such state
ments as the above. The soldiers Of the Sixth
Corps came largely from the same States as did
those of the Nineteenth-frOm New York, New
England aud pennsylyania-and believe that
Am the main they are willing that
JUSTICE SHOULD DE DONE.
] cannot have the space allowed me to fight
over again the battle of Cedar Creek. but j will
state few important facts. That the gallant
Eighth Corps small in numbers through pre-
vious hard fighting and campaigning, and on
that disastrous morning in the post of danger
on the left was hanked, attacked as was after
ward the Nineteenth) from front, rear and
flank all nj once and driven from the field by
the Confederate masses, in the fog with heavy
loss, no one has ever denied. And j say that
had the Sixth, or any other corps Of the Union
army, been in the same position, il would have
been treated ia precisely the same way. IL
was Chancellorsyille over again, with thick
fog added.
As for the Nineteenth, let me confess that
need all the patience that j have can bor-
row, 30 write even respectfully in reply 20 a
cOmrade who, a mile in rear of the great strug
gle that he so contemptuously dismisses, has
the hardhood 10 say that the Nineteenth Corps
" fled In confusion TO the rear" IL was my
fortune as il has ever been my pride, to see
that battle, with regiment that left one-half
OF its numbers killed and wounded on the field /;
and i declare TO Captain Lockhart and all
other vilitiers of the Nineteenth Corps. that
were the truth precisely AS he has stated-if
the Nineteenth Corps had not fought an hours
desperate and bloody battle in that fog. keep
ing back Early's army aud gaining golden
time-tben the Sixth Corps would have been
HoPELEssLY FLAEKED,
enveloped and overrun That the latter corps
fought well nobody questions. Why should
they not2 With the battle raging out of mus
ket-shOt OF them for more than an hour before
they were moved over 10 the pike TO take their
turn, it would have been their great shame
had they not been perfectly ready and able 10
make good tight. And no fault Of theirs, if
they were finally forced back more than a
mile; more than two would be nearer the
fact. That WAS the inevitable fate OF the whole
army; Aanled and hammered at on the left
tll retreat was necessary.
The fighting of the Nineteenth Corps IN its
own camps WAS simply terrific. 1t was not
surprised: its whole Second Division was in
line for a reconnaissance when the attack on the
Eighth began. My own regiment was under
arms 20 minutes before bullet reached us
Ask the men of the Sth VT, the 10Th Conn.,,
the Both Mass, the Hath ~ Y, and a score of
other good regiments standing ont there In the
fog, right in the teeth Of the enemy, aud hold
ing back overwhelming numbers-ask them,
Capt Lockhart what they think of your Ian
guage when you say that they " fed in confu-
sion" They were cut 10 pieces, giving back
only when prisoners had actually been taken
IN rear Of them. j trust the Sixth Corps would
have done a. well in the same position; be-
lieve they would; they were soldiers.
The Sixth Corps alone remained" IL
brings the color 10 the check Of the veteran 10
hear such calumny as this. ] speak Of what ]
know when j say that when the Sixth moved
over toward the pike 20 engage the advancing
masses OF the enemy, the line Of the Nineteenth
Corps was reformed; that it retreatcd
QUITE AS DELIBERATELY
as did the Sixth that thereafter there wa,
never a moment during the day but IL had !
strong line that in the afternoons battle Il
advanced and fought with the Sixth and the cav
airy, and that the enemy's line was broken by
the First Division of the Nineteenth Corp
under the eye Of Sheridan himself
will add, upon the authority Of aj.-Gen
William III. Emory, corps commander and Col
Robert y. York, one of his staff that upon tb,
retreat to a point beyond Middletown, about
o'clock p. NJ, the Nineteenth Corps occupied ,
line IN advance of the line of the Sixth tha
its line was halted and in position for som,
time Emory desiring and intending 60 fgh
again upon that ground, and that he yielde,
and continued the retreat only in obedience 4
peremptory orders from Gen. Wright II Cant
LOckhart will address ldcut.-Col. r. p. York
De Ruyter, Madison Co, n. ", or Mai. b. w
Crowninshield, date Of Sheridans staff L
Pemberton ST., Boston, Mass, he will leari
much about that stage Of this battle that vii
asionish him, II II docs not make him thought
ful.
AS TO Gen. WIight's splendid manuvering
the stubborn resistance of the Sixth Corn
turning the fortunes Of the day" "the advanc
being made Wright bad ordered H. a. N,
same result would have been obtained ha,
H.. d. ]. a.